Women's World Cup 2022: Beth Mooney pulls off one-handed stunner to dismiss Rashada Williams in semi-final

The mighty Australians continued their unbeaten run in the 2022 ICC Women’s World Cup, as they booked their spot for the final match of the tournament. The ‘Women in Yellow’ crushed their opponents West Indies in the first semifinal, which was a rain-curtailed affair, at the Basin Reserve, Wellington. Wicketkeeper-batter Alyssa Healy was adjudged the Player of the Match for her excellent knock of 129 off 107 balls.

Healy’s opening partner, Rachael Haynes also played a crucial knock of 85 runs in 100 balls. Similarly, Beth Mooney hit some lusty blows towards the end to remain unbeaten on 43, as the Aussies posted a mammoth total of 305 runs in just 45 overs. However, her contributions did not remain limited to her batting. The left-handed batter produced an outstanding bit of fielding as she took a one-handed stunner to give Australia the perfect start in their defence of the big total.

Beth Mooney takes a stunning catch to dismiss Rashada Williams

Chasing a target of 306 runs in just 25 overs, the West Indies women were 12/0 in 3.4 overs, when Megan Schutt bowled a half-tracker, which the batter Rashada Williams, who was yet to open her account, tried to pull towards mid-wicket. However, Mooney dived to her right to grab a stunning one-handed catch to dismiss the batter. The video was later posted on the official Instagram account of the ICC.

 

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After an early setback, Deandra Dottin and Hayley Matthews stitched an important partnership for the second wicket. Dottin was dismissed in the 10th over after scoring 34 runs off 35 balls. After the wicket of Dottin, Matthews, and skipper Stafanie Taylor got the chase going with a 47-run partnership. However, once Matthews fell for 34 in the 22nd over, it was all over for the batting side. Apart from skipper Taylor (48 off 75 balls), none of the other batters even managed to get into double digits, as they were bowled out for 148.

The mighty Australians are still unbeaten in the 50-over tournament and will face either South Africa or the defending champions England, in the final in Christchurch on April 3 (Sunday).